What started out as one assignment unfolded as a series of miracles. I can truly attest to the fact that you get out of life what you put into it.

Before leaving town, one of my remaining divine appointments, for this trip anyway, was singing for four Sunday Masses at St. Anastasia in Fort Pierce. I offered the song Holy Spirit Come To Me as a meditation song after Communion. Sweet Jennie Capezza and her family attended the 9:30 service. Her two girls, twins, Abby and Kate, sang with the choir for that Mass and it was breathtaking. Seven beautiful girls sang together like a choir of angels. (CLICK HERE to watch a video recording of this performance on YouTube.)

After the 9:30 Mass, Jennie's adorable son Luke asked, "Mrs. Hoy, my dad and I are going fishing today. Would you like to come with us?" It took all of two seconds for me to say, "Yes!" Then I remembered I had to be back to sing for the 5:00 service.

"But Luke," I said. "I have to be back to sing for the 5:00." I looked to his dad, and asked, "Can you get me back in time, Louis?" "Sure." He said with a sweet smile. Just meet us at the marina after the 11:00, jump on the boat and we'll go. We'll have you back to the dock by 4:15 or so."

It was a beautiful Florida day and our trip was a huge success. The guys limited out on Snapper and we were also able to catch and release seven other species that day; Black Drum, Puffer Fish, Sheeps Head, Lady Fish, Sting Ray and Blue Fish. Louis said he hadn't seen some of those kind of fish since he was a kid. One of my favorite moments was being there for the biggest catch of Luke's life. I got all choked up and felt so blessed to be there as father and son high-fived in the moment. Hanging out in a Manatee Zone, watching dolphins, countless birds and fellow fisher people was a huge blessing. It didn't even matter that my hair was a wind-blown mess as I ran to my car and quickly drove back to the church. I pulled my dress on in the parking lot and didn't bother to change from my flip-flops to heels. Thank God for hairspray. With a sun-kissed face and the smell of fish on my hands, I took my place with choir. Out of courtesy, I turned to the choir director and whispered, "Kristin, if you smell bait, it's me."

I could have flown home early because it made the most financial sense but I chose to wait on God. Trusting Him as I booked my flight. Not knowing if anything would happen after the retreat for John Carroll. I listened and I heard right. God did have more for me to do. As a result, all that you have read and many miraculous moments I have not written about... happened. Fishing between the Masses was such a gift.

It took about an hour-and-a-half for the storm to pass and move out to sea. I did walk the beach for a bit after. The air smelled fresh and clean but the no-see-ums were thick. Within ten minutes I was covered with bites. I quickly returned to the safety of my car and left.

Making my way back toward the mainland, I decided to try one more stop. At the entrance to Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, the ranger collected my four dollars and as dusk began to settle I found myself at the inlet side of the park. 

As before, I was all alone. It felt like I was doing something wrong again by being there by myself. I figured, either I was stupid, dead, or the luckiest person in the whole world.

I parked right up front and made the short walk to the beach. 

All alone in that beautiful place I began to walk and pray. I prayed spontaneously for a while, then took the rosary from my shorts pocket and began the Joyful Mysteries.

At the mere suggestion of making a visit to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, Sister Immaculata took her NASA pin from her lapel and pinned it to my shirt pocket. Patting it she said, “You should go.”

Selected to become a Teacher in Space in 1986, Sister did not make the trip. She has, however, jumped out of a plane strapped to a Special Forces Marine and hopes to do so again in celebration of her eightieth birthday this month.

While I have no desire to jump out of a plane or travel into space, I am known for being willing to go the extra mile, in my own way, when necessary. If it means doing something for God or seeing something I have not seen before, if there is the slightest possibility that I will never get that way again, I will go. With so much to experience less than an hour away, I awoke early the next morning and set out.

I find it fascinating that human beings are actually smart enough to have found their way into space. Orville and Wilbur Wright figured out how to get off the ground and that incredible moment opened wide the door of endless possibilities. Reaching into space has brought a better understanding of how small we are and where we sit in relation to so much more. Being reminded of how small we are gives us the opportunity to be humbled and inspired.

According to my computer’s dictionary:
The universe is believed to be at least 10 billion light years in diameter and contains a vast number of galaxies; it has been expanding since its creation in the Big Bang about 13 billion years ago.

So really, we are all just tiny dots in the cosmos. Though each of us is small in relation to the whole, every one of us is critical to the plan, God's plan, that is. God’s plan is bigger than we can dream. Eternity, which is promised, reaches far beyond light years. Whether or not we can visit there is left to some speculation, though I believe it has happened for a blessed few.

I say we keep reaching, beyond what is humanly possible, because with God, the possibilities are endless. We know there are consequences to every action no matter how far we go or what we do. We also know that Mother Nature has the power to wipe us out in an instant. I say dream big but don’t forget to love deeply that which is right in front of you. I know I don’t want to miss a single opportunity to live and learn.

As I entered the Kennedy Space Center Museum that day, heavy on my heart were the two space shuttle disasters; Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. While these tragic events brought great loss, it was wonderful to see the memory and contributions of each fallen astronaut acknowledged and recognized. NASA has had many more successes than failures. Throughout the park the following motto can be found; "Failure is not an option.” It is obvious that even through loss, knowledge has been gained.

I bought my own NASA pin at the gift shop. I will never regret going the extra miles to experience the wonder of our space program. The glory of space exploration is a big part of our past. I have a feeling there is much more to be discovered in the future.

Scripturally Speaking:

2 Peter 3:13
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (NASB)